Happiness is neoliberal bullshit.

I have no accurate estimates about the future industries since it's too uncertain. But there are lots of guesstimates out there, that's what consultants are for after all...

Higher premiums for overtime (only for fulltime employees) and holidays and lower income taxes can help change those deliberate choices. Also, maybe the SPD will end the subsidies for non-working spouses.

I just want to add that your account of the fossil fuel lobby is accurate. It's really terrible how they influence governments across the world.

I was talking about the high-tech agenda plans. We seem to be talking about different things

Neither have I! Popularity close to zerooo

Swedish pension funds invest a large share in global equities. German occupational pension institutions traditionally hold much larger shares of bonds and insurance products with capital guarantees. Since equities have historically outperformed bonds over long horizons, Swedish returns have been substantially higher.

About the six future industries, taken together, probably more people will be employed there than in the car manufacturing industry. It also will make Germany more resilient against industry-specific shocks. (The battery part of the high-tech strategy is NOT about contemporary technology like Varta, I should have specified that. Totally different technology, just like quantum computers and current computers are not the same.)

In total, public sector expenditure on works has risen, even if half of it has been spent on projects that were already planned before the debt break was loosened. You are right that the additionality share should increase to achieve more demand growth.

About the wages, yes, that is partially correct. Many employees with monthly wages choose to work part-time and would earn more by working full-time. I'm surprised you would not immediately think of this group of employees. I hope we are trying to understand each other here.

Can you substantiate your scenarios with the actual plans? I provided the link to the plans...

It's not a personal finance problem. These investment decisions are not made by individuals mostly, but by funds and their regulators.

There are many growing markets where capacity does not meet future demand (future is really key here). Those markets are likely the 6 industries in the new German industrial policy. The plans are not wishlists since they were jointly compiled by firms, research orgs and governments.

About the domestic demand: well, both investment and additional investment in public sector works increase demand.

About household incomes, these increase when you earn more money by working more.

Could you substantiate your fears with the actual plans? https://hightech-agenda-deutschland.de/

From the German orthodox economic policy standpoint (only used to supply side interventions), all your points are obvious. I think that explains the pervasive negative bias among Germans about their economy. This is the first time ever Germany deals with a structurally reduced demand from abroad. So the policy response is new in that way.

I'll try to respond to your points.

1. capital market reforms are largely about how to increase firms and households investment inside Germany vs abroad, and how they invest it. Think of how Swedish pension funds vs German pension funds invest their money. Germany has a lot of savings (no need to increase them) that are badly invested and lossmaking (here you need the policy intervention).

2. voilà! https://hightech-agenda-deutschland.de/

3. more hours worked per employee at same activation rate, more disposable income, more household expenditure. More public sector modernization (more construction works for schools, bridges, roads, cables, fleet, IT systems..), more demand.

It already has a new 'model' but the effects don't yet show up in headline statistics. The new German model has three parts:

1. increasing domestic investment with fundamental capital market reforms (like the new pension system and startup regulations)
2. implementing the strategy and detailed plan to grow 6 industries (quantum, silicon products, fusion, biotech, battery, AI)
3. increasing domestic demand (higher wages, longer hours worked, modernization of public sector)

The previous times of Israel link was not down voted that much. I'm also puzzled.